Tyson Fury’s crossover bout with MMA star Francis Ngannou is approaching and promoter Frank Warren finds himself having to defend his fighter against accusations that he isn’t facing the best possible opponents.
Fury’s standout fights are against Wladimir Klitschko and a triple header with Deontay Wilder. Both saw him step into the ring as challenger on away soil and leave with world titles.
Despite those achievements, his fight with boxing novice Ngannou has been met with criticism in the wake of failed negotiations to take on fellow champion, Oleksandr Usyk, in an undisputed bout.
Speaking to Gareth A Davis’s Fight Club on Boxing Social, Warren was asked via a fan question if there is an issue comparing Fury with former greats like Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield when he himself ‘hasn’t fought the best’ and has had only six title fights.
“What, he hasn’t fought the best? Sorry, I thought that Klitschko was the best, not the best of the time but the best of his generation.
Wilder, went to America, as he did going abroad to fight Klitschko, went to America and fought him three times. Wilder was undefeated and statistically the biggest puncher of his generation and statistically ever. He’s not fought the best?
Do me a favour, go and look at some of those [other] records. Tyson’s not ducked anybody.”
The match-ups most want to see for Fury to cement himself as the best of a generation are against the likes of Anthony Joshua and Usyk. Both have been attempted to some degree over the past year.
Should Fury come through Ngannou as expected, fans will be looking for him to push for the undisputed bout.